The decision to reintroduce Knights and Dames in the Order of Australia and awards to General Sir Peter Cosgrove and Dame Quentin Bryce were the subject of a debate on ABC's 730 chaired by Sarah Ferguson.

Prof David Flint argued in favour of the decision, and Greg Barnes opposed the reintroduction. Greg Barnes is a former chairman of the Australian Republican Movement, and was that their national campaign director for the 1999 referendum.